Things to do in Oahu › Oahu tours and activities › Whale watching and dolphin tours › Ko Olina Dolphin Watch and Snorkel Sail with Lunch
Ko Olina Dolphin Watch and Snorkel Sail with Lunch
★ #7 of 14 in our list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” Picked from the 46 whale watching and dolphin tours in the Oahu catalog, the way every tour here gets picked.
Updated price re-read every day; listing, times and pickup notes reviewed with it
Hawaii Nautical takes you from Ko Olina to watch spinner dolphins and snorkel at a separate stop. The 3-hour sail costs from $139.95 per adult with lunch and bar drinks. You meet at Ko Olina Marina for the daily 9 a.m. departure. There's shade between swims. The catamaran holds up to 42 guests and offers a repeat if dolphins aren't seen.
Our check
Ko Olina Dolphin Watch and Snorkel Sail with Lunch at a glance
| Duration | 3 hours |
| Price | from $139.95 per adult |
| Departure | 9 a.m. daily |
| Meeting point | Check-in sign near the docks at Ko Olina Marina |
| Boat | Catamaran, up to 42 guests with shaded and open seating |
| Water time | Spinner dolphin watching and a separate reef snorkel |
| Food | Packed sandwich or wrap lunch |
| Ages | Children welcome, infants on laps |
| Main trade-off | Dolphin repeat trip with no cash value |
| Guide languages | English |
Read from the operator's listing on the booking page, October 30, 2026. The price is the tour's starting price in U.S. dollars, re-read every day, last on . Children pay less.
What's included
- Guaranteed dolphin sightings - if no dolphins are seen, enjoy another trip on us (re-ride only)
- Lunch
- Use of snorkeling equipment
- Alcoholic beverages
- Shaded and open-air seating options
- Restrooms on board
What's not included
- Gratuities
Options
Which option to book
The single option sails daily at 9 a.m. Your ticket covers the dolphin watch and separate snorkel stop with lunch aboard.
| Option | Departures |
|---|---|
| West Oahu Dolphin Snorkel Sail | 9 a.m., daily |
The catch: If your 3-hour sail finds no dolphins, the free repeat has no cash value.
The day
How does the day work?
The morning sail follows west Oahu for dolphin watching before a reef swim and lunch on deck.
- 1
Ko Olina boarding
You meet the captain and crew by the marina docks. They review the day's route before the catamaran leaves.
- 2
Spinner dolphin watch
The crew searches for wild spinner dolphins along the coast. You watch this part of the outing from aboard.
- 3
Snorkel stop
A separate site gives you a chance to swim with reef fish and spot turtles. Snorkel instruction is provided before you enter.
- 4
Lunch aboard
Lunch and drinks are served on the boat. You can use shaded seating between time in the water and views from the deck.
The sail takes 3 hours from the 9 a.m. departure and returns to Ko Olina Marina. Your hotel journey sits outside the cruise.
Pickup and meeting point
- Meeting point: The selected departure uses Ko Olina Marina. The captain meets you near the docks at the check-in sign, where the boat trip also ends.
- Getting there: Plan extra time for parking and the walk to the docks. There isn't a hotel pickup with this option.
- Young children: Infants must sit on an adult's lap during the trip. Your family needs to account for that when boarding.
Before you book
- Book special meals at least 24 hours ahead. Vegetarian or gluten-free lunches need advance notice.
Fit
Is this tour right for you?
A Ko Olina stay fits this 9 a.m. sail if you can get to the marina yourself. Lunch comes with the cruise. You get 3 hours for dolphin watching and a separate reef swim. It suits guests who don't need hotel transport.
For a hot meal after snorkeling, Ocean Joy costs from $174 per adult without hotel transport. For selected hotel pickups, Dolphins and You costs from $183 per adult with a separate turtle snorkel.
Who it's not for
- Travelers needing hotel pickup with this option
- Guests seeking a swim with spinner dolphins
- Anyone expecting cash compensation if dolphins aren't seen
Good to know
Know before you go
The infant ticket band runs from ages 0 to 3, and infants sit on an adult's lap. Child tickets cover ages 4 to 12. Service animals are allowed on this sailing.
Vegetarian and gluten-free lunches need at least 24 hours' advance notice. Check that Hawaii Nautical has your request before that deadline. Your individual sandwich or wrap is served aboard during the cruise.
Snorkel gear and flotation equipment come with your ticket. You also have shaded seating and a restroom aboard. The full bar is included, so the food-and-drink portion doesn't require a separate package.
Your selected 9 a.m. option starts at Ko Olina Marina. You meet near the docks at the Hawaii Nautical boat check-in sign. Arrange your own ride, since this option doesn't include hotel transport.
Your mobile reservation can hold 1 to 9 travelers and must include an adult. The tour carries up to 42 guests overall. Other parties can share the catamaran with you on the same departure.
You need at least 24 hours' notice for a full cancellation refund. After that, the standard price is nonrefundable. Poor weather or insufficient passenger numbers can also cause the sailing to be canceled.
Reviews
How is it rated?
Alternatives
Which tour to choose instead
A hot buffet after snorkeling
Luxury Snorkel Cruise with Dolphin Watch and Hawaiian MealOcean Joy costs from $174 per adult for its cruise without transport. Warm showers and a hot Hawaiian meal follow your reef swim.
★ 4.7 · 1,513 reviews · from $174 per adult
A hotel ride to the boat
Oahu Dolphin and Snorkel Tour with Waikiki Pickup and LunchDolphins and You costs from $183 per adult with selected Waikiki and Ko Olina pickups. You don't have to arrange the harbor drive.
★ 4.5 · 1,792 reviews · from $183 per adult
Six guests and offshore dolphin species
Swim With Dolphins and Turtles in West Oahu (Semi-Private Tours)Aloha Ocean costs from $200 per adult for a six-guest powerboat from Waianae. Swims look for offshore species such as bottlenose or spotted dolphins.
★ 4.9 · 244 reviews · from $200 per adult
All 14 tours in the list “Whale watching and dolphin tours” · Oahu tours and activities by category
Questions
People also ask
- How much is Hawaii Nautical's Ko Olina dolphin sail?
The selected tour costs from $139.95 per adult for a 3-hour sailing. The price includes lunch and the full bar. Snorkel gear with flotation equipment is supplied too, while your journey to Ko Olina Marina is separate.
- Does Hawaii Nautical leave from Ko Olina or Waianae?
This selected option leaves Ko Olina Marina at 9 a.m. daily. You join the crew at the boat check-in sign near the docks. The broader tour description also mentions Waianae, so use your selected option's Ko Olina meeting instructions.
- Do you swim with dolphins on Hawaii Nautical's Ko Olina sail?
No, spinner watching happens from the boat on this 3-hour outing. Your water time comes at a separate reef snorkel stop. Snorkel instruction is provided, and you can look for turtles and fish without swimming with spinners.
- What is Hawaii Nautical's dolphin sighting guarantee?
You can join another cruise free if no dolphins are seen. The repeat has no cash value. Plan your 3-hour outing early enough in your stay to leave another opportunity if you want to use that offer.
- Can Hawaii Nautical provide a gluten-free or vegetarian lunch?
Yes, both choices are available with at least 24 hours' notice. Your lunch is an individual sandwich or wrap served aboard. Check that your request has reached Hawaii Nautical before the deadline, since it requires advance preparation.
Times and conditions as the booking page listed them on October 30, 2026; the price is re-read every day, last on . Booking happens on the booking page, at its price; a booking through the button earns this site a commission, and your price is the same.